7 Things to Do at Home

Bored in the house and in the house bored? It seems like after almost 1.5 years of living with the pandemic, we’ve gotten so used to our homes now. While it is safer to stay at home away from the virus, what else can we do for leisure besides whipping up Dalgona coffee and scrolling TikTok on our phones?

Well, coming from a total homebody like me, here are 7 things you can do at home to feel more productive and fight that cabin fever.

1. Start Cooking

Yes, you heard me right! The best time to start is now. If you’re like me who is always left in awe of the scrumptious dishes presented at Masterchef and Jamie Oliver shows, why not give it a go at making one of those dishes yourself? It doesn’t have to be a faraway dream; it can become your reality.

If you don’t know where to start, consider following some Youtube channels on this list by TimeOut Singapore or these family dinner recipes you can make in under 45 minutes! Not only will cooking help you to become more independent, but you can also treat yourself anytime and anywhere in the future. Cooking up a meal for your family is also a kind gesture and shows your love and appreciation for them too!

Just beware of the safety precautions and don’t burn down the kitchen though. 😅

2. Plan an art jam

Let your creativity run wild. Grab some brushes, pens and pencils and get down to it. Art is also a form of therapy and it can relieve your stresses once in a while. Better yet, buy some canvas and draw to your heart’s content and maybe frame them up somewhere in your room. Why not be aesthetic at the same time? You can also film a time-lapse video of yourself art jamming, which will be satisfying to watch when the end product is completed.

If you don’t know how to start, I recommend taking inspiration from the environment you are in, ponder what is it that intrigues you and capture the emotions you are feeling through art. You can also look up images on Google just to have a reference picture at hand! 🌄

Tip: To buy some art materials, head to Art Friend or Krafer’s Paradise and quench your creative thirst! Shopee also sells cheap and affordable art materials :-)

3. Try Knitting

We know, we know. Knitting?! That sounds like what I would do when I’m retired. Well, we beg to differ! Knitting and sewing are all the craze now. I mean, Tom Daley even did some knitting during the Tokyo Olympics 2020! Knitting can have great therapeutic and calming effects on an individual. Though it may seem like an insurmountable task at the start, a small knit goes a long way. Who knows, you might even be able to knit a scarf for yourself and your loved ones which you can use on future trips. Get creative and you can even knit small items like stuffed toys or a mini outfit for your pet. Isn’t that such an achievement? 👏🏻

Tip: No idea where to start? How about getting some knitting yarn and needles from Shopee and have them delivered right to your doorstep! If not, you can head to Spotlight for a never-ending selection of colourful yarn, knitting needles and all the necessary supplies you'll need.

4. Read, read and read!

Let’s be honest, when was the last time you sat down to read a book? Last week? Last month? Or years ago? We are all guilty of spending too much time on our phones and social media to be focused on reading a good book these days.

Reading helps not only to improve our linguistic abilities, it also reduces stress levels and can be a source of comfort. You can even learn something of the world that you never knew. If you find it hard to sit down for long hours to read, start off by reading a thin and easy fiction book and get that momentum going from there. ☕️

Tip: Click here or here for some short novels that you can read during your spare time. Light a candle while reading too for that ~atmospheric ambience~.

5. Play an instrument

If you have an instrument just sitting at home laying dust, that is a sign to pick it up again! Be it a piano, guitar, ukulele, clarinet or flute, get those musical scores out and start practicing. When you are done playing those old musical scores, why not scroll through your Spotify playlists to see which song you’re interested to play? Pick out your favourite song, search online for the scores and start playing your favourite tunes! It is a wonderful thing to be able to play the music you like to listen to.

Tip: If you are interested to buy a ukulele, you can visit places like Ukelele Movement to make a purchase. A ukulele is also portable and can be played for any occasion! It is more affordable than many other musical instruments out there.

6. Learn a new language

If you are not feeling musically inclined, that’s okay! Why not learn a new language instead? There are plenty of online Youtube courses you can search up just with the click of a finger. Pick a language and start learning the basics and if you want, you can even purchase some language books to help you study it better. If you are like watching films and dramas, how about the challenge of watching them in that language you are learning, without English subtitles? Now that’s a feat! Who knows, you might end up wanting to take some language modules in the next semester? 😜

Tip: Try out language apps like Duolingo! In Duolingo, you can add friends and motivate them through virtual high-gives and compete in experience points (XP) leagues! You can also set daily reminders for a short 5-minute practice which helps you learn the language a lot faster.

7. Home Exercises

While exercising is usually done outdoors, home exercises can be done too! Save your energy and money travelling to and fro when you can work it out in the comfort of your room. Simple home exercises that you can try in sets include lunges, pushups, squats, burpees and planks.

To get you motivated, turn on some energetic fitness playlists on Spotify and download a Fitness application to keep you on track. If you have an iPhone, you can also use the Health app to record your daily fitness activity. Exercising keeps both your mind and body healthy!💪🏼

Tip: Everyone loves Decathlon and for good reason! You can get a yoga mat for $30 to do your exercises on and a resistance band for $5.

There are plenty of things one can do at home; If you think hard enough.

If you liked this list and thought that it helped you, let us know! And if you would like for MORE ideas on things to do at home, comment down in the comments below and we might do a Part 2! 😊